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Master's of Science (MS) Degree

Normally the department does not admit students whose intended degree is a generic Master's outside of the MMS specializations program and MAQRM. However, students admitted for the PhD can obtain a general MS degree in Mathematics during their academic progression towards the PhD degree. Additionally, OSU PhD students in other departments who are in good academic standing may request to be admitted to our MS via the Dual Degree option of the OSU Graduate School.

There are three ways for a PhD student to earn an MS degree (listed below):

Candidacy: Apply either the semester of the exam, or after passing the Candidacy examination to receive the MS degree,

Thesis Option: Having completed 30 credit hours of approved work, a student mayselect the option of writing a thesis which has to be defended and approved by a two-faculty member exam committee,one of whom has to be the student's Masters Faculty (Thesis) Advisor*. Students utilizingthis optionshould be signed up for MATH 6999 with the supervising Masters Faculty (Thesis)Advisor duringthe semester they write and defend their thesis. Required curriculum includes:

​Algebra Requirement: ​Math 5111 + 5112 sequence (10hrs., grade of B or higher and average of B+ or higher in sequence), or Math 6111 + 6112 sequence (10hrs, with a grade of B- or higher and average of B or higher in the sequence), and

Analysis Requirement: Math 5201 + 5202 sequence (10hrs., grade of B or higher and average of B+ or higher in sequence), or Math 6211 + 6212 sequence (10hrs, with a grade of B- or higher and average of B or higher in the sequence)

Non-Thesis Option: This option requires 32 credit hours of approved course work as well as a Masters Pass on the Analysis and AlgebraQualifying Exams or the equivalent courses (see below). In addition, it requires a four-hour written examination on any subject given by a two-faculty member exam committee,one of whom has to be the student's Masters Faculty (Non-Thesis) Advisor*. Required curriculum includes:

Algebra Requirement: ​Math 6111 + 6112 sequence (10hrs, with a grade of B+ or higher and average of B or higher in the sequence) or a Masters Pass or better on either of the Algebra1 or 2Qualifying Exams can substitute, and

Analysis Requirement: Math 6211 + 6212 sequence (10hrs, with a grade of B+ or higher and average of B or higher in the sequence) or a Masters Pass or better on either of the Analysis 1 or 2 Qualifying Exams can substitute.

The Masters Thesis needs to follow university formatting guidelines, be approved by the exam committee, and be submitted to the OSU Graduate School and OhioLink. For further details see Section VI of the Graduate School Handbook.

* The Masters Faculty (Thesis or Non-Thesis)Advisor needs to be a Math Department faculty member of category M level or higher. They are selected separately from your Dissertation Advisor, but can be the same person. When the student has established with a faculty member that they will advise the students Masters Thesis, the student reports the chosen Masters Faculty (Thesis and/ or Non-Thesis) Advisor to the Math Graduate Office using the departmental Change Advisor form.